Apparatus for making brushes



1366- 1955 P. DIEFFENBACH APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRUSHES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 15, 1963 INVENTOR. PERCY DIEFFENBACH 4 3 ATTORNE s.

Dec. 14, 1965 P. DIEFFENBACH 3,223,454

APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRUSHES Filed Oct. 15, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet Z INVENTQR. PERCY DIEFFENBACH ATTORNEYS 4 WM M 2% Dec. 14, 1965 P. DIEFFENBACH 3,223,454

APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRUSHES Filed Oct. 15, 1963 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. PERCY DIEFFENBACH A TTORNE Y-SZ United States Patent 3,223,454 APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRUSHES Percy Dieifenbach, RD. 1, Olyphant, Pa. Filed Oct. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 316,232 2 Claims. (Cl. 300-2) This invention relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing brush stock and more particularly to a fully automatic arrangement for producing in a continuous manner extensive lengths thereof. Brush stock, for the purpose of this invention, may be defined generally as a pair of twisted wires carrying filaments in a distributed fashion therebetween.

In the past few years, there has developed a number of machines of the fully automatic type used in the manufacturing of extended lengths of brush stock. One of the more successful prior art machines is characterized by the employment of means for the positive feed or metering of the individual brush filaments and the positive feeding of a pair of spaced, coaligned wires from a continuous supply such that the filaments are captured between the wires. After a sufiicient length of coaligned wires has been drawn from said supply, further feeding of the wires is stopped and that portion of the drawn wires carrying the filaments therebetween is then twisted to effect the production of an extended length of brush stock.

It is obvious that due to the use of the positive feed means for both the continuous double wire supply and the filaments, and the inherent requirement for synchronization therebetween, this type of machine is not only quite complicated but necessarily quite expensive. In addition, a primary disadvantage in this method of operation is that the individual brush filaments that are positioned between the spaced, longitudinally extending wires at one point must move with the wires as the wires are being longitudinally drawn from the continuous supply until a suiiicient length of wire is drawn prior to twisting of the wires and capturing the filaments therebetween. During this extended movement of the filaments between the wires, means must be employed to ensure that the individual brush filaments do not slip from their proper, centered position between the wires. stationary guide means are required for maintaining the filaments oriented in a preferred plane as the wires are drawn to an extended length prior to the twisting of the same to effect locking of the filaments between said wires. Regardless of whether the filaments are oriented in a vertical plane or a horizontal plane, some guide means must be employed to ensure proper positioning and retention of proper position of the filaments between the wires as they are being drawn.

After the wires have been drawn and twisted to form an extended portion of brush stock, it is necessary to sever or cut the formed brush stock near the point where the wires receive filaments. Conventional reciprocating cutters have been employed. After cutting a formed section, the machines commonly employ a reciprocating chuck which moves in a reverse or return manner to a point where the chuck jaws close upon the extended, parallel wires at the point of severance for movement away from the wire supply and filament feed means to again effect positive drawing of the wires and positive feeding of filaments therebetween. In order to ensure accurate location of the recently severed ends of the parallel wires with the open reciprocating chuck, it has been necessary to utilize additional centering means to ensure that the projecting or free ends of the wires are centrally located with respect to the axis of the reciprocating chuck. In most cases, the need for centering is the result of some slight axial deformation given to the pair of parallel wires adjacent the point of severance by re- In at least one case,

ciprocating cutter or other severing means. Due to the relatively small opening presented by the chuck jaws in the open position during the return of the chuck to the point where it acts to move the coaligned wires in response to positive drive of the wire feed means, the prior art machines require extremely accurate axial alignment between the wires and the chuck jaw at the point of engagement of the chuck jaws with said wires.

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for effecting the fully automatic production of brush stock in which the requirement for positively driving either filament distribution means or the wire feed means is completely eliminated.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved fully automated method and apparatus for the production of brush stock in which the sequential steps of first drawing the wires from an endless supply and secondly twisting the latter after the filaments have been positioned therebetween is completely eliminated.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved, fully automated method and aparatus for the production of brush stock in which the need for maintaining the filaments in alignment between the wires during extended drawing is completely eliminated.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an extremely simplified automatic machine which is more reliable in operation, more durable and which allows the production of uniform brush stock in a highly econ-omical fashion.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved, fully automated apparatus for the production of brush stock in which a highly improved chuck is employed eliminating the need for additional centering devices for centering the wires prior to contact with the reciprocating chuck.

Further objects of this invention will be pointed out in the following detailed description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which disclose, by way of example, the principle of this invention and the best mode which has been contemplated of applying that principle.

In the drawings,

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of the present invention in a preferred form; the elements of the apparatus being shown in the position they occupy at the start of the automated formation of an extended length of brush stock.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section of the apparatus showing the elements at a position in which a portion of brush stock has been formed.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus showing the elements in the position they occupy when an extended portion of brush stock has been formed and its inner end severed.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the apparatus forming the present invention, partially in section, showing the position of the main elements of the apparatus during the automated formation of an extended piece of brush stock.

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged view, partially in section, of the portion of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 showing the frictional drive means for the picker wheel.

In general, the apparatus of this invention comprises a fully automated machine for making extended lengths of brush stock and includes means for supporting a picker wheel for free rotation about its axis and means for directing a first continuous wire about a portion of the peripheral surface of the wheel. Means are further provided for pressing a plurality of brush filaments against the first wire adjacent the peripheral surface of the wheel with the axis of the filaments being aligned with the axis of the wheel. A second continuous wire overlaps the first wire and is spaced by the filaments with the second wire extending longitudinally of the first wire away from the machine. Means in the form of a reciprocating chuck act simultaneously to draw both wires across the machine away from the picker wheel and to twist the same, whereby the first wire frictionally rotates the picker wheel to automatically feed brush filaments between the wires and thereby effect the production of an extended length of brush stock. It is noted that the method of the present invention includes the simultaneous step of drawing the wires and twisting the same to lock the distributed brush filaments between the wires to produce a uniform extended length of brush stock having the desired overall cylindrical configuration.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus employing the method of the present invention includes a number of main or principal components supported by a horizontal base frame 10. A freely revolvable picker wheel 12 acts in conjunction with an inclined filament storage hopper 14 to distribute segregated groups of filaments between a pair of wires aligned with the periphery of the picker wheel 12. Blocking means 16 cooperates with the picker wheel 12 to control distribution of filaments between the wires. A reciprocating carriage 18 including a check assembly 19 moves forwardly to draw the wires to select filaments, and to twist the same simultaneously as the carriage moves from left to right. After forming an extended length of brush stock, a reciprocating cutter assembly 20 acts to sever the formed brush stock which falls downwardly as the result of gravity as the chuck opens. The reciprocating carriage 18 moves forwardly to a point where the chuck frictionally engages the extended coaligned wires adjacent the point of severance for repetition of the cycle.

In more detail, the horizontal frame or support includes a plurality of vertical support means 22 which are joined by horizontal cross members 24, FIGURE 5, the members being welded together to form a rigid supporting structure. The longitudinally extending frame 10 includes a pair of L beams to provide a raised track portion 26 which advantageously supports the wheeled vehicle or carriage assembly 18. For this purpose, the carriage assembly 18 includes a fiat base member 28 carrying at either end a transverse axle 30 to which is coupled for free rotation, a pair of wheel members 32. The wheel members 32 are grooved centrally at 34 to center the carriage on the track members 26 and to allow longitudinal or horizontal reciprocation as indicated by arrows 36. A pair of cross beams 38 are fixed to the base member 28 for supporting various elements of the reciprocating carriage assembly 18. Upstanding bracket members 40 are provided with suitable bearings 42 to support a central shaft 44. The shaft is free to rotate and may be rotatably driven in a single preferred direction by a conventional fluid motor 46 fixed to the rear end of the carriage assembly 18. The fluid connections to this motor are indicated by the tubular extension or conduit 48 carrying an electrically operated valve 50, the operation of which is to be described fully at a later time. The forward end of shaft 44 includes a frustoconical member 52 which is mounted on the shaft 44 and is freely slidable therewith. This member forms a principal component of chuck assembly 19. The extreme outer end of the shaft 44 is coupled to a transverse element 54 forming an additional element to the chuck assembly. A pair of pivotal chuck jaws 58 are pivotally mounted to the transverse element 54 by pins 60. At the rear ends of the jaws 58, there is provided an adjustable screw 62 such that the inner ends of the screw members may be adjusted with respect to the jaws to vary the opening and closing movements of the jaws indicated 4 :1 at 64. It is apparent, therefore, as the frusto-conical member moves forwardly or rearwardly along the axis of shaft 44 the jaws 58 will pivot at their forward ends to open and close to allow engagement of the chuck with the severed ends of the wires to form a portion of brush stock.

In order to effect the longitudinal sliding movement of the frusto-conical member 52 with respect to shaft 44, the rear end of the member 52 is grooved circumferentially as indicated at 66. The groove acts to receive opposed ends of a yoke indicated generally at 68. The yoke 68 is pivotably mounted on pin 70, fixed to carriage base 28 and extends horizontally away from the center line of shaft 44 as indicated best in FIG. 5. The outer arm of the yoke member is coupled by a suitable pin connection 72 to a reciprocating piston 74 which is slidable within a fluid cylinder 76. As the result of the reciprocation of piston 74, the outer free end of yoke 68 will oscillate and due to the driving connection between the pins 78, carried by the inner end of the yoke, and the groove 66, reciprocation of the frusto-conical member 52 of the chuck assembly results in opening and closing of the chuck jaws 58. Since the transverse element 54 is stationary with respect to the axis of shaft 44, reciprocation of member 52 merely results in pivoting of the jaw members 58 about pins 60. It is evident that due to the adjustability of the screw member 62 and therefore the point where they contact the conical surface of the reciprocating member 52, the distance between the jaws 58 in the open position of the chuck assembly may be made larger or smaller as desired to insure engagement with the free ends of the wires being drawn through the machines immediately after severance of the completed portion of brush stock. It is further apparent that with the particular configuration of the chuck assembly there is shown, the machine will operate regardless of some minor misalignment between the center line of the ends of the severed wire and the center line of the chuck assembly carried by the reciprocating carriage. Further, the fully open position of the chuck jaws 58 may be controlled by a pivotable movement of the yoke 68 which is controlled by the length of the stroke of the piston 74.

At the rear of the machine, intermediate of transverse support members 24, there is provided a second pair of longitudinally directed frame members which are rigidly connected to transverse frame members and act to rotatably support the picker wheel 12. A central shaft 84 fixed to picker wheel 12 rotates freely within bearing members 82 about a horizontal axis. The picker wheel 12 may be formed of a solid disc and preferably carries a series of transverse slots 86, equally spaced about the periphery of the disc. In addition, the disc 12 preferably includes a circumferential, centrally located groove (FIG. 4), the circumferential groove being slightly deeper than the transverse slots 86. This groove acts to receive the first continuous wire indicated at 90. It might be stated that the wire is merely the free end terminating from an endless supply which is positioned to the left of the machine and therefore not shown. In this regard, as indicated in FIG. 6 the first wire 90 is directed about the periphery of a suitable guide pulley 92 carried by a shaft 94 and acts to change the horizontal direction of wire 90, allowing it to be wrapped about the periphery of wheel 12 within the circumferential groove 88. The outer surface of the wire 90 is preferably coplanar to the bottom surface of the transverse slots 86. In this manner the wire 99 does not interfere with the metering or distribution of the filaments which are supplied by inclined hopper 14. The transverse slots 86 formed in the periphery of the picker wheel tend to pick up segregated groups of filaments 96 and to carry the same about the periphery of the wheel in contact with the upper surface of wire 90 which is being carried in the circumferential groove 88. The method in which the filaments move from the inclined hopper 14, and are distributed in small groups by the picker wheel is evident by reference to FIGS. 4 and 6. Due to the weight of the mass of the filaments within the inclined hopper 14, they tend to slide downwardly and to press against the peripheral surface of picker wheel 12 to segregate themselves in small groups Within the transverse slots 86. It is to be noted that axis of the individual filaments within the mass 96 are coaligned with the axis of the rotating picker wheel 12. In this respect they are at right angles to the axis of the wire 90 as it moves within the circumferential slot 88. The machine includes a metering element or block 98 which has a curved surface 100 of the same general curvature as the peripheral surface of the picker wheel 12. Thus, a metering throat is formed at the point where the wheel 12, the inclined hopper 14, and the metering block 98 meet. As a result, as long as there is no interference with the normal feeding movement, small groups of filaments will be segregated in position, within the transverse slots 86, as a result of the mass of filaments 96 being pressed against the peripheral surface of the metering wheel 12. They therefore align themselves within the transverse slots 86 against the wire 90 and at right angles thereto. To insure accurate location of the metering block 98, it is slidably engaged by vertical support members 102 and 104 on either side thereof. In order to effect the completed assembly of wires and filaments to form brush stock, there is provided means for delivering a second wire indicated at 106 from an endless supply (also not shown). The second wire 106 also passes horizontally from the supply means, at the right of the machine, to a point where it engages a pair of spaced guide pulleys 108 and 110. The guide pulleys guiding the second wire to a point where it is aligned with the second wire 90 at the periphery of the picker wheel 12, the wires being spaced slightly by the filaments positioned therebetween. Thus, both the wires 90 and 106 are indicated as being drawn from left to right from an endless supply and being directed to a position where the wires pick up spaced filament groups through the use of the cooperating picker wheel. Suitable guide pulleys which are biased act to guide the pair of wires and the entrapped filaments immediately after the wires are brought aligned into position adjacent the periphery of the picker wheel. The upper spring biased pulleys 116, 118 and 115 are carried by a vertically reciprocating block or support member 122 which is guided by vertical guide member 104 at the left hand side of the machine and by a third vertical guide member 124. The block 122 is biased downwardly through the use of a compression spring 126 which may be adjusted by suitable means such as manually operated member 128 to vary the compressive force between the upper and lower pulleys. The lower pulleys 112 and 114 are fixed vertically.

A primary feature of the present invention is the provision of a method and apparatus wherein neither the metering of the filaments between the drawn wires nor the drawing of the wires themselves is effected through the use of positive drive means. Rather, the wires are drawn by the reciprocating carriage carrying the chuck member. In addition, the present invention employs a method of operation in which the filaments are locked therebetween, as a result of continuous twisting of the wires as the wires emerge from the last of guide pulleys 114 and 115. This is achieved by providing means wherein the chuck, as it reciprocates, is allowed to rotate only during the forward feeding movement of the carriage away from the picker wheel and filament feed means. It is readily apparent therefore, that, since the picker wheel 12 is freely revolvable about its axis, and since it is the rotation of the picker wheel which effects the distribution and metering of the groups of filaments between the spaced wires, contact of the lower wire 90 about a portion of the periphery of the picker wheel, within its circumferential groove, results in the frictional rotation of the picker Wheel. The movement of the wire and the simultaneous metering of the filaments and distribution between the first wire and the second wire 106 occurs preferably at a point of tangency with the periphery of the picker wheel. It is apparent from viewing FIG. 6 that, as a result of the relative close spacing between the picker wheel 12 and the metering block 98, it is only as a result of the transverse slots 86, that selected groups of filaments may be moved between the wires and distributed in adesired manner to effect the formation of the brush stock as the wires are drawn from the frictionally rotated wheel. Since it may be desirous to provide portions of brush stock characterized by lack of filaments, this may be accomplished by the provision of portions 'of the wheel periphery which are free of transverse slots. However, it is preferable to provide blocking means which may be suitably controlled to prevent contact between the filaments and the rotating picker wheel. For this purpose, a pivotable blocking member in the form of serpentine element is provided. Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown the blocking member 120 which includes a forward curved surface 122 at the free or outer end and includes a rearwardly extending portion 124 which is coupled to the piston member 126 forming a portion of solenoid assembly 128. The solenoid assembly 128 is fixed to one of the vertical support members 22. The blocker member 120 is pivotally mounted at 130 and oscillates the curved surface 122 toward and away from the open throat 132 of the hopper 14. The free end of the blocking member 120 is coupled to the reciprocating piston 126 by suitable transverse pm 134. In this manner energiz-ation of solenoid assembly 128 results in a downward movement of piston ,126 and an oscillation of the curve-d surface 122 in a counterclockwise manner about pin 130 to effect closure of the throat 132 to thereby'prevent movement of filaments into the transverse slots 86 of the picker wheel 12.

The remaining major element of the machine illustrated in the drawing comprises the reciprocating cutter assembly 20. .An extended portion of the vertical support member 22 includes a transverse support member which acts to hold the cutter assembly 20 in a plane aligned with the center line of the reciprocating carriage. The assembly 20 comprises'a fluid motor 144 including suitable supply and exhaust conduit 146 and a reversing valve 148. The motor, the conduits and the valves are conventional and in themselves form no part of the present invention. The cutter assembly 20 includes a pair of cooperating cutting blades which overlap to effect cutting of an extended length of the brush stock after its automatic formation at termination of the downward stroke achieved by reciprocation of the fluid piston within the fluid motor 144. The cutter and its method of operation are quite conventional. It might suflice to state, that movement of the cutting blades 150 together effect severance ofthe assembly at the point of emergence from the cooperating rollers 114 and 115 at the end of a downward reciprocation of the piston within the fluid motor 144 in a fully automatic manner. The valve 148 then reverses itself to effect upward reciprocation of the piston within fluid motor .144 and automatic opening of the cutting blades 150.

The simplified method and apparatus of the present invention employs a minimum number of automatic control elements which cooperate with the fluid control motors to effect fully automatic operation. A reciprocating motor 144, a rotary'motor 46 and a third reciproeating fluid motor 150 are provided. In this regard, the fluid motor 150 is fixedly positioned beneath the transverse support members 24 and includes a piston 152 which is coupled to the reciprocating carriage assembly 18 by a vertical conduit 154. Again, a conventional solenoid operated valve 156 delivers fluid to the double acting piston 152 through the supply line 158.

A series of four microswitches are employed for controlling the action of the fluid valves required to operate 7 the various moving portions of the machine. The four microswitches are indicated at 160, 162, 164, and 166. The microswitch 160 acts to control the position of the blocking member 120 and is provided with a depending microswitch button 168 which cooperates with a raised cam surface indicated at 170 for momentarily closing the throat 132 of the hopper 14 to prevent movement of filament material into the transverse slots 86 of the picker wheel 12 even though the picker wheel is frictionally rotated as the wires are being drawn outwardly. For one particular type of brush stock, it is necessary to terminate the feeding of filament material between the wires and the separate portion of the brush stock. Microswitches 160 and 162 are fixed to the frame member in a position such that they are spaced from the reciprocating member 172 in the form of a square rod which is fixed to the moving carriage. Thus, rod 172 moves longitudinally just beneath the microswitch 162. In this respect, the rod has a cam surface 170 which is raised and acts in conjunction with the spring biased pushbutton 168 associated with microswitch 162 to energize the solenoid assembly 128 to move the curved surface 122 of the blocking member into position to block the throat of hopper 14. Momentarily, therefore, as long as the pushbutton is in contact with the cam surface 170, the filaments will not feed into the transverse slot 86 on the picker wheel and as the result, the brush stock will have a portion along its length which will be characterized by the absence of filaments. At the extreme end of the reciprocating rod 172 there is shown another cam member 171. This member may be adjustably located with respect to the rod 172 by a suitable screw 176 which couples the cam member 171 with the rod 172 at one of a series of threaded holes 174. Thus, the length'of the brush stock may be determined by the position of the cam surface 170 which cooperates with a pushbutton 178 projecting beneath thesurface of the microswitch 160. As the rod 172 moves on the carriage from left to right, or in a forward feeding operation, as indicated in FIG. 5, to the point where the cam surface 171 contacts the push button 178, a circuit is completed whichwill actuate the solenoid operated valve 50 tending to stop the fluid rotary motor 40 preventing further twisting of the wires and the formation of the brush stock. Simultaneously, the operation of microswitch 160 results in the suitable operation of solenoid operated valve 156 tending to prevent further reciprocation of the carriage assembly 18 by reversing the supply of fluid to the fluid motor 150 tending to reverse the direction of horizontal reciprocation of the carriage assembly 18. Prior to the carriage assembly 18 moving in a reverse direction, the reciprocating fluid motor 144 operates such that the piston moves downwardly to effect automatic cutting of the extended length of brush stock. Suitable operation of solenoid operated valve 148 directs the fluid through supply conduit 146 to effect reciprocation of the piston within the fluid cylinder and to bring the cutting blades 150 together, to sever the brush stock at the point where it emerges from the last set of rollers 114 and 120. The pair of cutters 150 actually pass through the brush stock, displacing some of the filaments to cut the wires 90 and 106. The small portion of twisted wires 200 and brush filament that are left projecting from rollers 112 and 120 after severance, FIG. 2, are still aligned axially with the axis of the rotating shaft 44 and the chuck on moving carriage assembly 18. The act of cutting or severing the wires and effecting the finished formation of brush stock is achieved without any axial deformation of the wires as they emerge from the rollers and remain in alignment with the periphs cry of the rotating picker wheel 12.

Additionally, the operation of microswitch 160 as a result of pushbutton 178 contacting cam 171, effects reciprocation of piston rod 74 within the reciprocating fluid motor 76 causing the yoke 68 to pivot about pin 70, thereby opening the pivoted jaws 58 of the chuck assembly.

As the jaws pivot open (FIG. 3), the finished piece of brush stock 202 falls as a result of gravity into a suitable receptacle (not shown). As a result of operation of solenoid valve 156, the carriage reverses its direction to move from right to left with the chuck jaws 58 in open position and with the axis of the shaft 44 in alignment with the projecting portion 200 of wire. It is to be noted that the upward movement of the cutter assembly 20 is controlled through microswitch 166 and the depending microswitch pushbutton 204. In addition, the yoke 68 has a rearwardly extending flattened surface 206, which acts as a contact surface for the pushbutton 204. As the reciprocating fluid motor 76 rotates the yoke 68 in counterclockwise direction, as indicated in FIG. 5, about pivot pin 70, the flattened surface 206 moves off the pushbutton 204 to cause an appropriate operation of the microswitch to vary the position of fluid valve 148 associated with the reciprocating fluid motor 144, controlling the cutter operation. The reciprocating fluid motor 144 is actuated in such a way that it moves upwardly opening the cutter bars and moving them out of position above the free ends of the wires 200 as shown in FIG. 2. It is noted that there is a momentary delay in moving the reciprocating cutter assembly 20 upwardly after effecting a cutting operation- This momentary delay insures accurate cutting of the finished bush stock and provides the required dwell for the cutting tool at the end of the cutting stroke.

As the carriage assembly moves rearwardly to the point where the chuck jaws act to receive the portion 200 of the twisted wires emerging from the guide pulleys 114 and 115, the rotatary shaft 44 is not rotated, since the fluid motor 46 only rotates the shaft 44 in a preferred direction during the portion of the cycle in which the carriage 18 is moving in a forward direction (that is, from left to right as viewed in the drawing). Reverse movement of the carriage 18 is completed at the point where the projecting portion 200 of the brush wires are received in the open jaws 58 of the chuck assembly. Microswitch 164 controls the reversing of the carriage 18 and in this regard a projecting bar 208, FIG. 5, carries a forward contact surface 210, which contacts pushbutton 212 of the microswitch 164. Closing of pushbutton 212 on the microswitch 164 causes the solenoid operated valve 156 to reverse the fluid flow into reciprocating fluid motor 150 to drive the carriage forwardly from left to right. At the same time, closing of pushbutton 212 acts to reverse the operation of the reciprocating fluid motor 76, pivoting yoke 68, and closing the chuck jaws 58, capturing the projecting ends 200 of the twisted wires and 106-at the point where they emerge from rollers 114 and 120. Again, appropriate operation of energized solenoid valve 50 acts to drive the fluid motor 40 in its desired direction to simultaneously twist the wires 106 and 90 as they emerge from guide pulleys 114 and 115 to effect the formation of a new, extended portion of brush stock in a repetition of the cycle.

A brief description of the fully-automatic operation of the machine follows:

The cycle starts with the carriage in the position shown in FIG. 1, in which contact between rod 208 and microswitch 164 effects closure of pivoted jaws 68 on the reciprocating carriage. Operation of microswitch 164 further results in reciprocation of fluid motor from left to right causing the carriage assembly 18 to move forwardly away from the picker wheel 12. The rotary fluid motor 46 is now operating to rotate shaft 44, and the chuck assembly to twist the wires and capture the filaments therebetween to form an extended section of brush stock as the carriage moves from left to right. FIG. 2 shows the elements of the machine at the point in which an extended piece of brush stock is almost completed. At this instant, pushbutton 168 of microswitch 162 is riding upon cam surface 170 as the cam surface is moving underneath the microswitch. This produces a section of brush stock which is characterized by a lack of filaments since the microswitch 162 operates the solenoid 128 to rotate blocking member 120 in a counterclockwise direction and prevent feeding of filaments into the transfer slots 86 on the picker wheel periphery. FIG. 3 shows the elements at the halfway point of the cycle in which the cam surface 171 is moved into the position beneath pushbutton 178 and beneath microswitch 160 to actuate pushbutton 178.

Operation of pushbutton 178 provides the fourfold effect, it stops forward reciprocation of the carriage and reverses the operation of fluid motor 154) to reverse the carriage movement. It also energizes the fluid cutter assembly 2!) to eflect the cutting action of a finished section of brush stock. At the same time, it operates reciprocating fluid motor 76 to open the chuck jaws 78 to aliow the finished portion of brush stock to fall beneath the machine into a suitable receptacle. Finally, the operation of microswitch 160 results in stoppage of the rotation in the fluid motor 40, and this continues as the carriage is driven to its rearmost point to start the cycle anew. During return movement of the carriage, and as a result of operation of fluid motor 76, the surface 296 moves from beneath the microswitch 166 to elfect return movement of the cutter assembly 24) with a slight delay depending upon the time required for the surface 206 to move from its position beneath the pushbutton 204 of the microswitch 166. The carriage 118 returns to the position where contact is made between projecting member 208 and microswitch 164 to repeat the cycle.

Of course, by making suitable adjustments to the microswitches, to the solenoid operated valves they control and to the fluid motors which are actuated as a result thereof, events taking place during the cycle of operations may be varied. For instance, by varying the position of cam surf-ace 170 or by adding additional cam surfaces, a product may be varied to provide two or more portions characterized by a lack of filaments. As noted previously, by changing the position of cam surface 171, the length of continuous brush stock for any individual brush stock element may be varied. It may, for instance, be desirable to place a cam surface similar to that indicated at 170 spaced slightly from cam element 171 to prevent the feed ing of filaments at one point to eflect a portion of brush stock which is characterized by the absence of filaments at the point where the brush stock emerges from the pulleys 114 and 124 related to reciprocation of the cutting assembly so that the filaments do not adversely affect the cutting operation. In addition, it may be advantageous to use a hydraulic rotary fluid motor for rotating shaft 144 while using air as the fluid for operating the reciprocating fluid motors such as motors 76, 144, and 150. It is felt that the above description accurately discloses the method of sequential operation of the various mioroswitches and the associated controls for operating the various fluid motors. The elements forming this portion of the system are quite conventional and the manner of operation in a preferred sequential manner is believed to be readil understood from the above description.

While they have been shown and described and pointed out, the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and detail of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for automatically making bristle-type brushes:

a freely rotatable picker wheel having formed over the greater portion of its periphery transversely oriented bristle carrying slots While the remainder of its periphery is free from slots,

an inclined hopper for directly supplying bristles to said slots located adjacent and beneath the top portion of said picker wheel, movement of said wheel causing said slots to pick up groups of bristles and raise them from the lower quadrant of the wheel adjacent the hopper to a bristle discharge point approximately at the top of said wheel,

a groove formed on the periphery of said picker wheel,

a first binding wire wound in said groove in driving frictional engagement with said picker wheel and in contact with the groups of bristles, the path of move- :ment of said binding wire while in contact with said wheel being generally upwardly,

a second binding wire overlapping and spaced by the groups of bristles from said first wire with which it is arranged coextensively from the bristles discharge point,

metering means slidably engaged by vertical supports located entirely above the bottom end of said hopper having a guide surface adjacent to and curved complementary to that of the picker wheel periphery,

carriage means reciprocable toward and from said picker wheel,

means movable with said carriage for clamping and drawing the wires while simultaneously twisting the same to lock the groups of bristles therebetween, thereby producing continuous brush stock.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein cutter means are operatively positioned between said picker wheel and said carriage means for cutting the brush stock into predetermined lengths when said carriage means is at its furthest point of travel from said picker wheel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,712,473 7/1955 Hertzberg 300-2 2,903,299 9/1959 Marks 3002 3,112,957 12/1963 Briglia 300-2 3,140,122 7/ 1964 Spiegel -300-2 GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, JR., Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY MAKING BRISTLE-TYPE BRUSHES: A FREELY ROTATABLE PICKER WHEEL HAVING FORMED OVER THE GREATER PORTION OF ITS PERIPHERY TRANSVERSELY ORIENTED BRISTLE CARRYING SLOTS WHILE THE REMAINDER OF ITS PERIPHERY IS FREE FROM SLOTS, AN INCLINED HOPPER FOR DIRECTLY SUPPLYING BRISTLES TO SAID SLOTS LOCATED ADJACENT AND BENEATH THE TOP PORTION OF SAID PICKER WHEEL, MOVEMENT OF SAID WHEEL CAUSING SAID SLOTS TO PICK UP GROUPS OF BRISTLES AND RAISE THEM FROM THE LOWER QUADRANT OF THE WHEEL ADJACENT THE HOPPER TO A BRISTLE DISCHARGE POINT APPROXIMATELY AT THE TOP OF SAID WHEEL, A GROOVE FORMED ON THE PERIPHERY OF SAID PICKER WHEEL, A FIRST BINDING WIRE WOUND IN SAID GROOVE IN DRIVING FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PICKER WHEEL AND IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUPS OF BRISTLES, THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID BINDING WIRE WHILE IN CONTACT WITH SAID WHEEL BEING GENERALLY UPWARDLY, A SECOND BINGING WIRE OVERLAPPING AND SPACED BY THE GROUPS OF BRISTLES FROM SAID FIRST WIRE WITH WHICH IT 